The leaks are coming in fast with Google’s hardware event right around the corner on Tuesday, October 4. Evan Blass, of @evleaks fame, recently showed off some renders of an upcoming 4K Chromecast on VentureBeat.
Blass also said his sources confirmed that the device will be called the Chromecast Ultra, as first reported by Android Police. When it rolls out, the device will be running firmware version 1.21, Blass says. A beta version of that firmware was recently released to Chromecast Preview testers.
Like other versions of the Chromecast, the device will be capable of streaming content sent to it from a smartphone. Instead of a mere 1080p picture, however, the Ultra will be capable of pushing pixel-packed 4K resolution.
Blass’ render only shows the Chromecast Ultra in a black color. It’s not clear if the device will have the same color options that the standard high definition version has. Google is also doing away with the Chromecast branding on the device, according to Blass, and opting for the company’s stylized “G” instead.
There’s no word on a release date for the Ultra, but a recent report from Android Police said the device will cost $69. That’s double what the current Chromecast costs at $35.
Why this matters: Not many people have 4K television sets yet, but it’s slowly becoming a more affordable option when shopping for a new TV. That’s only half of the story, however. 4K content is also necessary to take advantage of the new resolution. While it’s still not widely available, 4K content has built up in 2016, and we should see far more of it in the coming years. For now, prospective Chromecast Ultra users should be able to use 4K-supporting services like Amazon Video, Netflix, and YouTube, which is exactly what many people are no doubt looking for anyway.